{"id":45814,"date":"2016-09-13T10:19:06","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T14:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=45814"},"modified":"2016-09-12T20:14:05","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T00:14:05","slug":"greening-hajj-pilgrimage-mecca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/greening-hajj-pilgrimage-mecca\/","title":{"rendered":"Greening the Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published on EdenKeeper.org<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Hajj season of 2016 is underway in Saudi Arabia and the world’s attention is finely tuned to the environmental impacts of four million pilgrims converging on Mecca. The pilgrimage crowd is phenomenal and attempts to “green” the hajj, as we’ll cover in this update, are continuously improving and as innovative as ever.<\/p>\n

Taking place between the 8th and 13th days of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul Hijjah, this year’s hajj occurs from the 9th to the 14th of September. This is the largest pilgrimage in the world, reenacting the events of 1,400 years ago when the Prophet Muhammad gave his final sermon.<\/p>\n

\"Hajj
Hajj pilgrims making their way from Mecca to Mina. Credit: Wikipedia commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Perfectly Choreographed Ocean of Worshippers<\/h3>\n

Citizens of over 150 countries participate in rituals throughout each day, en masse, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and in the region of Mina, about 8km\/5 miles away. The five daily prayers are performed in astonishing synchronicity by millions of Muslims, in uniform lines requiring no coaching or guidance whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Shoulder to shoulder and with just enough space in front and behind to bow and prostrate, lines of worshippers form at the first sound of the calls to prayer. Raising both hands in salute to God, worshippers bow, kneel, prostrate, and stand repeatedly like a perfectly choreographed ocean stretching beyond the limits of vision.<\/p>\n

\"Evening
Evening prayer at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during Hajj. Credit: Wikipedia commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ensuring Personal Safety During Hajj<\/h3>\n

A multitude of upgraded practices and facilities have vastly improved the environmental impact of so many people in such a small place. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is continuously striving<\/a> to correct weaknesses that crop up as the Hajj crowds continue to grow.<\/p>\n

Facilities have repeatedly been enlarged, transportation systems have expanded, and security forces have multiplied. Public awareness campaigns have also greatly helped to dramatically increase pilgrim safety and reduce environmental damage. However, as was seen in the unfortunate stampede<\/a> of 2015, the risks during Hajj are nevertheless still high.<\/p>\n

This year, efforts to regulate crowds are being redoubled. The personal safety of every single pilgrim is taken very seriously during Hajj. E-bracelets are now being issued to everyone upon entry, helping to keep track of everyone. Barcoded and connected to a smartphone app called “Hajj Bracelet,” Eissa Rawas of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj explains<\/a>, “This new technology helps a lot when a pilgrim is hurt or lost.”<\/p>\n

Rawas adds, “If you open the app, focus it on the barcode written on the bracelet, you will instantly get all the personal details of each pilgrim, including his\/her photo, name, age, nationality etcetera.”<\/p>\n